Please don't hand him a full auto M14. He might show me up.
All joking aside. I know I was very fortunate to have had a lifetime of firearm safety and exposure.
From as far back as I can remember I knew the safety rules and they were a little different than today as they included things like you can't even point a stick, squirt-gun, toy gun, or even you FINGER at a person and "pretend" it is a gun.
Harsh... Maybe, but it instilled a very real respect for firearms. Muzzle control and a natural instinct for me knowing where a safe direction is .. it has become natural for me.
Also every gun is loaded till I personally inspect the chamber, and even then it must revert to rule 1. But now I could work the action cock it and dry fire it (with permission of the owner of the firearm.)
My Dad's friends were always impressed in how all my Dad's kids handled firearms. You know how you can tell when a person has handled firearms a lot, and it is second nature, well we were all like that, but at a young age.
I do however believe there are some limits and guidelines. I don't think a 7 year old should be shooting a 1911. I also feel handguns should follow a few YEARS of rifle training first.
I am not saying you can't or should not let your kid shoot a pistol at all ... but not in competition or as a regular thing. They should go through the NRA small bore rifle training and have all their sharpshooter bars, at a minimum, before moving on to handguns.
ALL the fundamentals and building blocks are the same. If you have not mastered them with a rifle why are you moving on to handguns?
I also feel kids easily can perceive firearms as "toys" and they are something to "play" with. Call me a fuddie duddy but firearms are serious business and deserve the respect of what they are, and that is that of a tool which is a lethal weapon.
Was I ready at 10 to take on pistol shooting? Probably, but am glad I was made to finish my distinguished expert with a rifle before starting to shoot bulls eye with a pistol.
I was 14 and had the strength and had a LOT more responsibility than I did at 10. Not that at 10 I could have been proficient and could be trusted. The only key for guns and ammo that works is trust and training.
I did shoot various pistols .22s, a 9mm, and 38 wadcutter at 12 and 13 but not as a rule.
The vid clip of the little kid is an example of an extreme. He was way to young to be playing that game in my opinion. He is not my son so it's not really my business. I would be tempted as an RO to send him home. If it was my range... my rules.
Everyone is different... but it is never to early to teach safety. I would think 7-8 is a good age for some to start the class room training of the NRA basic rifle marksmanship course.
Strict supervision. Lots of dry fire then go to live ammo. Focus on training fundamentals and work on proficiency. The rifle is a target rifle and is a tool for the sport. It is not a machine gun and only one round at a time should be loaded. Remove the magazines and put the single shot magazines in. My M52 could only shoot one round anyway.
I used a M69 with target sights first as the 52 was to big.
A couple of years developing your shooting "personality" and making shooting friends .. become part of a team.... and focus on your skills punching paper. If parents feel they should be introducing their kids to hunting than that is up to them. I am not going to broach THAT subject. But 7 may be to young to talk about killing with your rifle.
Handguns... I am not comfortable around children with pistols. Not all children are brought up like I was or like others here may have been. At that young age the natural behavior for their age is NOT SAFE.
From a distance watch them it's just not right, and they for some reason, loose sight of where the pistol is pointing. EVEN if they shoot a rifle. Some just can't grasp the concept of where the pistol barrel is pointing.
13 years is a good early starting point for handguns, and 16 is where I feel less supervision is needed.
Now remember your 10 year old may be fine. I am trying to pick a general age.
I am very tempted to say .22 rifle only at 7 years old with parent with in arms length or so only....
At 10 .22 rifle is OK to be on the line and have supervision typical of any range with a RO for every 5-10 kids, AND the 10 year old needs to have his/her NRA basic marksmanship course diploma to be permitted to move around the range w/o their parent or coach, when the line is safe.
Pistol .22 only at 13
center fire rifle at 13 (not to include over 308/30-06)
Centerfire pistol at 16 (not to include over 45 ACP)
All heavy center fire should be 21 unless you are in the military.
338, .50 BMG, 308 handguns, all that big stuff you need to be emancipated and is why I feel 21 or begin in the military.
There is also the legal BS to contend with.
So hand gun might have to be 18/21
As with any guidelines there are people that are ready earlier and people that will NEVER be ready.
As much as I really love seeing 10 year olds shoot and have a blast and become enthusiasts.. BUT there is the right time and place for it. Reserve that for the special Father son times or smaller groups.
As much as I have a LOT of empathy for the 10 year old who might be asked to stay away from a hot line at a big shoot, and am sure many are trustworthy and very capable. It is up to the people putting the shoot on to set the limits.
Maybe the way to handle it is on an exception basis and have the youngsters have a special time and place to shoot with some limitations of caliber and rifle vs pistol. With LOTS of close supervision.
I have also almost been killed by students at 50-60 years old too. Most instructors have a few stories.